Although motorcycles and mopeds seem worlds apart from four-wheeled vehicles, obtaining your motorcycle or moped license or endorsement is similar to obtaining your license or endorsements for other vehicles in Tennessee.

License and Endorsement Requirements

You can apply for all motorcycle licenses and endorsements at your local driver license station. The fee is $20.50 for a motorcycle-only license, and $38 for both a regular driver license and motorcycle endorsement.

Types of Motorcycle Licenses in Tennessee

Motorcycle Learner's Permit (Class P-M)

To get a motorcycle learner's permit, you must be at least age
15 years old. While you have your learner's permit you must:

Operate a motorcycle with only a 650 cc cylinder or smaller

Operate only during daylight hours

Operate only within 20 miles of your home

Never carry passengers

Never use the interstate system

The permit is valid for
1 year, and once you turn 16 years old you can upgrade the permit to a regular motorcycle license.

Motorcycle Only (Class M)

The license is allows you to operate any two or three-wheeled vehicle with a
125 cc or greater cylinder, and is valid for 4 years. You must:

Be at least 16 years old

Pass vision, written, and on-cycle skills tests

Motorcycle-secondary (Class M)

This endorsement is added to and will expire at the same time as another type of license, such as a regular Class D license. You must:

Already possess another type of operator license

Pass vision, written, and on-cycle skills tests

Motor-driven Cycle (Class M Limited)

You must:

Be at least age 15 years old

Operate only 2 or 3 wheeled vehicles with no more than 125 cc cylinders

Operate only between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. (if 15 years old)

Operate only within 7 miles of your home (if 15 years old)

Comply with the restrictions set forth by the Examiner

Testing

Before you can obtain your motorcycle license, you must pass a knowledge test which will consist mostly of situational, multiple choice questions; and an on-cycle skill test to demonstrate your riding skills.

Motorcycle Training Courses

Riding a motorcycle offers a degree of freedom when you hit the open road, but that freedom comes with a price. The lack of metal protection that a car affords you means that you need to be even more careful as you straddle your bike and merge into traffic.